Article IV: General Student Regulations

St. Olaf College students are expected to abide by federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances (see Article VI, 1). Violations of federal, Minnesota, Rice County and/or Northfield laws may be referred to the appropriate outside agencies for disposition in addition to or in lieu of any college disciplinary action. In the event of complaints from community citizens or agencies, the college will cooperate fully with local authorities in the performance of their duties.

Action, which results in a student being involved in legal proceedings in civil or criminal court, does not free the student of responsibility for his or her conduct in the college disciplinary system. If a student is charged in both jurisdictions, the college generally will proceed with its own judicial process according to its own timetable. Disciplinary action at the college will not be subject to challenge on the ground that criminal charges involving the same incident have been dismissed or reduced.

The college also reserves the right to itself to initiate disciplinary proceedings against students who have been formally charged by legal authorities with criminal violations that occurred off-campus or who may have otherwise committed an action off-campus which may be related to the security or safety of the college community or the integrity of the educational process or otherwise constitute a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Such discretion rests with the president of the college or the Dean of Students.

Standards of Classroom Behavior

Students are expected to have high standards of behavior in the classroom, and rules of reasonable behavior should prevail. Classroom behavior should follow guidelines established by the individual professor. Students who engage in prohibited or unlawful acts that result in the disruption of a class may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class for the remainder of the class period. Longer suspensions from a class or dismissal on disciplinary grounds generally will be preceded by a disciplinary hearing, as set forth in Article VII of this Code. The college reserves the right, however, to suspend students, pending hearings, when determined necessary to protect members of the college community or otherwise determined by the college to be appropriate.

The term “prohibited acts” would include behavior prohibited by the instructor (e.g., persistent speaking out without being called upon, refusing to be seated, disrupting the class by leaving and entering the room without authorization, etc.). It must be emphasized that this provision is not designed to be used as a means to punish classroom dissent. The lawful expression of disagreement with the instructor is not in itself disruptive behavior.